Voters pay attention to LSU losses

• By RANDY ROSETTA
• Advocate sportswriter
• Published: Nov 13, 2008 - UPDATED: 6:15 a.m.

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While the computers that churn out formulas for the Bowl Championship Series standings haven’t been all that kind to LSU this season, human voters have continued to keep the Tigers alive in both polls.

What do the humans know that the computers don’t?

The humans are likely placing more weight on who the Tigers have tumbled to than the black-and-white facts that LSU has dropped three games.

In the Associated Press and USA Today/ESPN rankings, LSU is one of only three teams with three losses in both polls. South Carolina and Oregon State are the others.

The thing that makes the Tigers unique among that trio is that all their losses have come against ranked foes – at No. 11 Florida, at home to No. 9 Georgia and last week’s home loss to top-ranked Alabama.

Since throttling LSU 51-21, the Gators have vaulted to No. 3 in both polls. Georgia was one of Florida’s victims and has dipped to 13th in the AP, 12th in the coaches rankings.

The only SEC team that has faced more ranked foes this season is Tennessee, and the Volunteers are 0-4.

LSU’s three losses to ranked opponents is its most in the regular season since 1999. That season the Tigers lost to five ranked foes in a six-week span — all five from the SEC.

The Tigers lost to three ranked teams in 2004, the last coming against Iowa in the Capital One Bowl.

LSU’s receivers were all wowed by Alabama freshman wide receiver Julio Jones, who gouged the Tigers with seven receptions for 128 yards.

The yardage was the most allowed to a receiver by the LSU defense this season and most of that came as Jones perpetually dragged two or three defenders downfield with him before getting tackled.

“He was pretty good,” LSU sophomore receiver Terrance Toliver said. “They threw him the ball every time they needed a big play and he came through. We could barely tackle him and if our guys are having trouble getting him down, he’s got to be pretty strong.”